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Re: Volvo penta 290 dp

It's all in the lower unit.
Just do a search on ebay for "Volvo Penta 290 lower unit" ,
it will show lower units with different ratios listed.
Any future Volvo Penta questions will get better results if you post
in that forum , it is an active forum with lots of knowledge.

Re: Volvo penta 290 dp

Originally Posted by CASTLE_CAPE

I'm intrigued by the "E" drive. What engine(s) would that have came with?
It is a 290? What lower unit ratio(s) came with the "E" ? What years?
Thanks

The E drive was a Diesel Engine drive...... and was a later series from the 290 series.
The E transmission further reduces the reduction so that a different combination of lower gear sets could be used.

Here's the deal with I/O lower unit gear sets:

The further the reduction, the smaller the "drive" gear ("pinion" gear in the Auto world), and the larger the "driven" gear ("ring" gear in the Auto world).
As the reduction becomes greater, there is less gear tooth contact at any given time.
This equates to a weaker gear set that is more prone to breaking under heavy loads.

So...... in order to accomplish an over-all ratio of let's say 2.30:1 (the 2.30:1 lower gear set being the weakest), the E transmission is used with a 1.95:1 lower gear set (a stronger gear set).
This combination gives an over-all reduction of 2.30:1, or very close to it.

Likewise, in order to accomplish an over-all ratio of let's say 1.95:1, the E transmission is used with a 1.78:1 lower gear set (a much stronger gear set).
This combination gives an over-all reduction of 1.95:1, or very close to it.

In order to accomplish an over-all 1.78:1 reduction, the E transmission would not be used.